Brenda Blethyn fans have a new reason to tune in, with the Vera star’s acclaimed drama Dragonfly now available to stream free in the UK, eight months after its theatrical release.
Written and directed by Paul Andrew Williams, the film pairs Blethyn with Andrea Riseborough in a tense story about two lonely neighbours whose unexpected friendship gradually becomes complicated by suspicion, prejudice and judgment.
Blethyn is almost unrecognisable from her familiar role as DCI Vera Stanhope, instead playing Elsie, a vulnerable 84-year-old woman whose circumstances bring her closer to the woman living nearby.
Described as “unpredictable and eerie,” Dragonfly explores the realities of elder care while building toward a devastating conclusion.
Brenda Blethyn and Andrea Riseborough Lead the Cast
Blethyn stars as Elsie, while Academy Award-nominated actress Andrea Riseborough plays her 30-year-old neighbour, Colleen.
Jason Watkins, known for Line of Duty and McDonald and Dodds, appears as Elsie’s son, John.
For Blethyn, the film arrived soon after she stepped away from the role most closely associated with her career.
Earlier this year, she revealed that she had worried work might slow down after leaving Vera, only to discover the opposite.
“I didn’t think the phone would ever ring, but it’s been ringing off the hook,” she said.
“I didn’t know this was going to happen.”
What Is Dragonfly About?
The story begins with Elsie, an elderly woman who is not receiving the level of care she needs.
Her neighbour Colleen becomes disturbed by the situation and offers to help her without payment.
That act of kindness brings the two women closer, and an unlikely bond begins to form.
But the relationship is not as straightforward as it first appears.
According to the Tribeca synopsis, Colleen’s intentions may not be exactly what they seem. As suspicion begins to grow, one shocking event sets off a violent chain reaction that threatens to permanently change both women’s lives.
The film is described as a “heartbreaking, tense and atmospheric” drama designed to challenge assumptions.
It also directly addresses questions surrounding social care and the treatment of elderly and marginalised people.
Critics Praise Blethyn and Riseborough
Dragonfly has received a strong critical response, currently holding a 92 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Viewers have also praised the performances at the centre of the film.
One person described it on social media as a “beautifully written drama and an acting masterclass.”
Another wrote: “Congratulations to you, Brenda and Andrea, and the whole Dragonfly team. It’s also a fantastic film that everyone should see.”
Professional critics were equally impressed.
The Guardian awarded the film four stars and described it as a “haunting, genre-defying drama.”
The Hollywood Reporter highlighted the strength of its two leads, writing: “Andrea Riseborough and Brenda Blethyn dazzle in a bleak British shocker.”
Their performances were also recognised at the Tribeca Film Festival, where Blethyn and Riseborough jointly won the Best Performance award.
A Very Different Role for the Vera Star
For audiences used to seeing Blethyn as the determined, trench coat-wearing detective Vera Stanhope, Elsie presents a dramatic change of pace.
Rather than driving an investigation, Blethyn plays a woman whose vulnerability and isolation place her at the centre of a far more intimate and unsettling story.
The film uses the relationship between Elsie and Colleen to examine care, loneliness and assumptions about the people society can too easily overlook.
That combination of strong performances, social themes and growing tension has helped Dragonfly stand out since its release.
** Dragonfly is available to stream now on ITVX.**